Written on: March 8, 2022 by SprayTM
The International Organization of Aluminum Aerosol Container Manufacturers (AEROBAL) has reported that global shipments by its member companies declined by 1.2% in 2021 to approximately 5.6 billion units.
While the main, end-use deodorant market remained roughly at the previous year’s level, deliveries to the hair mousse,
shaving foam and food markets increased, in some cases by double digits. By contrast, the market for hair spray, sun care and pharmaceutical products, as well as for disinfectants, household and technical spray products, was weaker than in 2020.
The slight decline in shipments was mainly due to lower demand from the EU member states and the UK. Overall, the North and South American markets were roughly level with the previous year, while deliveries to Asia and the Middle East increased, in some cases significantly.
“Demand for sustainable packaging solutions remains high on customers’ agendas,” said AEROBAL President Leopold Werdich.
“The manufacturers of aluminum aerosol cans have been delivering convincing concepts in this area. For example, the ecological footprint of cans is being sustainably improved through targeted weight reductions and the use of optimized coating systems. Overall, there is a trend in the market towards less complex can shapes, which creates greater leeway for weight reductions. The high sustainability performance of aluminum aerosol cans is rounded off by the optimum recyclability of aluminum, which can be recycled almost indefinitely without any loss of quality. It is crucial that globally-efficient collection and sorting keeps this valuable material in the cycle,” concluded Werdich.
Order intake in the first quarter of 2022 so far bodes well for aluminum aerosol can manufacturers, noted AEROBAL Secretary General Gregor Spengler. There has been an increase in relaunch activity observed in the market due to the revitalization of marketing activities by can customers. However, the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, exorbitantly high energy prices driving inflation with the corresponding loss of consumer purchasing power, and tensions in the supply chain for electronic control parts for machinery are dampening the industry’s mood.
By far the greatest concern for manufacturers, however, is the war on Ukraine with the accompanying uncertainty and market upheavals.
